Means for heating the interior of motor vehicles



J. E. HILES Jan. 29, 1935.

MEANS FOR HEATING THE INTERIOR OF-KUTOR VEHIGLES Filed July 2, 1932 Patented Jan. 29, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MEANS FOR HEATING THE INTERIOR MOTOR VEHICLE John Edward Hiles, Hereford, England y Application July 28, 1932, Serial No. 625,287

In Great Britain July 31, 1931 1 Claim.

j This invention relates to means for heating the interior' of motor vehicles. employed as-the heating mediu When steam is m it is important that lthe condensate is no t allowed to collect in the pipes or radiators, which it is liable to do particularlywhere the pipes or radiators extend or are disposed below the level of ator E or boiler.

the 'steam gener- The object of the present invention is to provide asteam heating system having means for automatically preventing the condensed steam a steam pipe or conduit leading from the generator or boiler to the interior of the vehicle, in combination with means for creating a suction or vacuum for drawing back the the said pipe or from parts of condensate from the system, with means -for returning the condensate to the steam generator -or boiler. The water be heated by the exhaust gases the generator may, in this case.

disposed adjacent the exhaust haust pipe of the engine. preferably of a large capacity,

in the latter may of the engine and be attached to or manifold or ex- A vacuum chamber,

may be embodied in the system and connected to the steam pipes or conduits of the latter so that drawn into the vacuum chamber, the said cham,

the condensate is ber being placed in communication with the steam generator or boiler, such as by a pipe or conduit, and being so disposed relatively thereto that the condensate after passing into the chamber drains back into the steam generator.

The

vacuum may be conveniently obtained by placing the vacuum chamber in communication with the induction pipe or induction manifold of the enigne so that it is exhausted thereby.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing showing the improved heating the interior of a private vehicle.

system applied to level, determined by the tap or cock 3, so that its upper portion extends above the water level and constitutes a steam chamber.

Leading from the top of the` water chamber or steam generator 1 is a steam pipe or conduit 4 which is arranged to pass into the interior of the vehicle. This pipe 4 may be disposed inside the vehicle in any suitable way, according to where the heat is required, but may bev conveniently arranged in the manner illustrated, the said pipe passing along the one side of the floor of the vehicle to the rear seat 5, where it is bent into a serpentine form and returned along the opposite side of the vehicle floor,v the arrangement thus enabling the vehicle to be evenly heated as soon as the steam is generated. The portion ofthe pipe which is bent up into a serpentine shape may be lodged beneath the overhanging iront edge of the rear seat 5 and may be entirely enclosed by means of a grid or wire mesh screen 6, thus forming a neat and eflicient radiator. The steam condenses as it passes along the pipe or conduit 4, and means are provided, according to this invention, for creating a vacuum or suctionwhich is adapted to draw the condensate from out of the said pipe and for raising it up above the boiler level where it may be allowed tov drain back into the generator or boiler. For this purpose a vacuum chamber 7 is provided, preferably of a capacity larger than y that of the generator 1, and the pipe or conduit 4, after passing around the interior of the vehicle, is extended upwards, the part 4* of the said pipe -being connected to the vacuum chamber 7 near its upper end, so that the interior of the pipe is in communication therewith. Leading from the bottom of the vacuum chamber '1 is a pi or conduit 8 which passes to the lower portion of the steam generator or boiler l, so that the water which is drawn into the chamber 'l may drain back into the said generator. To enable the vacuum chamber 'I to be exhausted 'aa suction pipe 9 is provided leading from1 the top of the vacuum chamber 7 to the induction pipeor induction manifold of the engine, so that during the working of the engine a constant depression orl vacuum may be maintained in the vacuum chamber, with the result that the condensate which collects in the steam pipe 4 of the heating system is drawn into the vacuum chamber 7 from which it drains back into the boiler through the pipe 8, as stated. Means may be provided for cutting off the suction automatically when the vacuum chamber 'l is nearly full, and for this purpose the latter is provided with a float 13 for operating a valve 14 adapted to close the suction pipe 9 when the water reaches a certain level. An air vent normally closed by a valve 15. is provided in the top c! the vacuumvchamber '1, the valve 15 being raised by the float to open the air vent, when the iioat operates the valve 14 for cutting oiI the suction. The vacuum or partial vacuum which is created in the chamber 7 serves to keep the pipe or conduit 4 of the heating system entirely free from the condensate and the same is prevented Irom being waterlogged. A free circulation of the steam is thus ensured and the arrangement has the advantage of relieving the system of all pressure. Moreover, as the condensate is returned to the steam generator or boiler there is little or no waste.

In order to prevent water or steam from being drawn into the vacuum chamber 'l directly from the steam generator or boiler 1 through the pipe 8, the latter may be tted at a convenient point with a check or one-way valve 10. This valve is arranged to be automatically opened in one direction by the pressure of the head of water in the vacuum chamber, to permit of the water passing to the boiler, but otherwise remains closed.

The system enables the vehicle to be heated in an eflicient manner, and owing to the reduced pressure steam is quickly generated and the vehicle is soon brought to a comfortable temperature. To enable the heat to be regulated a second valve 11 may be provided in the pipe 8 between the vacuum chamber and the boiler. This valve is adapted to be hand operated and by closing the valve the condensate is prevented from passing back to the boiler 1 and collects in the vacuum chamber 7. 'I'he water in the boiler 1, which need be only of moderate dimensions, is'thus gradually used up and the heat is reduced. The temperature of the vehicle may thus be readily regulated by more or less closing this valve. Should it be desired quickly to shut oi the heat the tap or cock 3 may be opened so that air is then drawn into the system. If desired, provision may be made for completely emptying the boiler or steam generator.

The vacuum chamber may be used for the initial filling of the boiler, if desired, the said chamber having a suitable 1111er, such as l2, normally closed. 'I'he whole of the parts of the heating system may be of copper or other rust-proof material, the pipes being preferably oi' a small diameter.

The boiler or steam generator 1 may be of a cylindrical or tubular formation disposed along the top of the exhaust manifold of the engine.

It may carry upon its underside flanged tubular extensions 1'L welded or fixed to the manifold; or

it may be fixed to the latter in any suitable` manner which provides for the emcient heating of the water. The boiler or steam generator may be of any other desired shape or construction. Any suitable means may be provided for enabling the water to be heated by the engine or exhaust gases so that it is converted into steam, with pipes or conduits for conducting the latter to the interior of the vehicle, whilst a plurality of radiators connected by pipes or conduits may be provided at suitable points inside the vehicle.

The improved heating system may be readily adapted for largepublic vehicles and for all types of motor cars, as well as for aeroplanes and motorboats.

Having fully described my invention, what I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent isz- A steam heating system for motor vehicles, comprising, in combination with an internalcombustion engine having an exhaust manifold and an induction pipe; a steam generator'mounted adjacent the exhaust manifold and heated thereby, a vacuum chamber disposed above the steam generator, aconduit connecting the upper part of the vacuum chamber to the induction pipe, so that the vacuum chamber is exhausted by the suction of the engine, a steam conduit forming a heat radiator and extending inside the vehicle, said conduit being connected at its one end to the upper part of the vacuum chamber, so that condensed steam is drawn out of the conduit into the vacuum chamber, whilst uncondensed steam in the conduit is kept always below atmospheric pressure, said conduit being connected at its opposite end to the top portion of the steam generator and extending down below the latter, and being arranged so that water. from the steam generator cannot flow into the same, a iioat in the vacuum chamber, a valve operated by the float for cutting oi' the suction of the engine, an air inlet in the vacuum chamber, a valve controlled by the oat for opening the air inlet when the suction is cut off, a second conduit connecting the vacuum chamber to the steam generator, so that the condensed steam may drain back to the latter when the air inlet is open, and a one-way valve in the second conduit preventing Water from being drawn up from the steam generator into the vacuum chamber.

JOHN EDWARD HILES. 

